Tigers 4, Indians 2

Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler dives for a ground ball off the bat of the Indians’ Michael Brantley in the first.

CLEVELAND — J.D. Martinez hit a three-run homer off closer Cody Allen in the ninth inning, helping the Tigers rally for a 4-2 win over the Indians on Tuesday night.

Martinez's one-out shot over the centerfield wall bailed out Detroit, which had failed to get a clutch hit for eight innings. But in the ninth, Torii Hunter drew a leadoff walk from Allen, Miguel Cabrera singled and after Victor Martinez flied out, J.D. Martinez connected for his 19th homer.

The comeback kept the Tigers on the heels of the first-place Royals in the AL Central.

Cleveland wasted a strong performance by Carlos Carrasco, who side-stepped danger for 51/3 innings and struck out a career-high 10. Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer for the Indians, who have dropped the first two in this critical four-game series.

Until Detroit's uprising, Carrasco was in line for his fourth straight win. The right-hander managed to work out of jams in four straight innings, making big pitches and keeping the Tigers' power hitters in the ballpark one night after Detroit slugged five homers and collected 20 hits.